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As police continue to investigate the vandalism at East End Ball Field at East Crawford Avenue and Kettle Street, the folks who volunteer with the 55-year-old youth baseball league are working to clean up the mess and replace anything that was destroyed.
"I felt sick when I looked at it," said Gene Himes, who serves as the field and equipment manager.
Vandals broke into and ransacked five buildings Sunday at the field, which was built in the late 1970s. The vandals left just about anything that wasn't bolted down either scattered or broken.
Altoona police said Wednesday that three boys are responsible and are facing unspecified charges, including felonies.
"We have identified three juveniles -- all under the age of 13 -- and charges are being filed," Altoona police Sgt. Matthew Plummer said.
Plummer said one of the juveniles confessed to his parents and the parents of all the boys brought the juveniles to the Altoona Police Department.
"The parents were cooperative," Plummer said.
Police are awaiting the final cost of the vandalism, but said it was between $10,000 and $20,000.
The motive for the vandalism isn't clear, but police said the boys tried to steal a tractor after they damaged the facilities.
"But they couldn't get it outside the fence," Plummer said.
Gene Himes said the tractor, which was covered in mud, was severely damaged, with its transmission and ignition ruined.
In the concession stand, broken glass littered the floor in a soup of cooking oil, condiments and cleaning products.
"We're trying to figure out how to get it cleaned up," said Brad Himes, who serves as vice president and is Gene Himes' son.
Brad Himes pointed out that the vandals broke out the window to the door to the building and also a back window, which is covered by a mesh grate.
"Glass is all through the fryer," Brad Himes said.
In all, about 40 gallons of oil was dumped on the floor, and since it's mixed with glass, they are not sure how to get it off the floor and disposed of properly, Brad Himes said.
A pile of french fries sits in a blackened microwave, just one of the pieces of equipment in the stand that was destroyed or damaged. A box of 3,000 straws was scattered throughout the building, along with other debris now soaked in oil.
Brad Himes pointed out it took hardly any time to make the mess, but cleaning it up will take a lot longer.
He said with some of the chemicals at the field, they were lucky the vandals didn't mix the wrong substances.
"We could have had a real big fire," Brad Himes said.
The vandals did try to start three fires and dragged items from the buildings and sheds.
Gene Himes pointed out the bats and baseballs were taken from the equipment shed and thrown about and the rolls of raffle tickets were unfurled and tossed behind the field's backstop.
That is also where bags of clay used to rebuild the pitcher's mound and lime used to chalk the infield were busted open and dumped.
Brad Himes said two machines used to line the field were jammed with clay and ruined, and the spray paint used to draw the outfield lines were used to deface decking, doors and walls of buildings.
"I had every emotion you could think of," Brad Himes said of what went through his mind when he saw the destruction.
He also asked, "why?" and was definitely angered by the vandalism, calling it "shock and awe."
Both men said the response from other leagues and the neighborhood, including older people who were involved in the building of the field, has been tremendous.
The Altoona Curve grounds crew has volunteered to come out and repair what damage was done to the infield. Sheetz has said it would help replace some of the concession equipment, Gene Himes said.
As far as insurance, the league is still looking into what is covered and what is not, Brad Himes said.
A cleanup, work party is scheduled for Saturday, and Gene Himes said anyone who wants to help should be there at 10 a.m.